Data accumulation and transmission system for use between remote locations and a central location

ABSTRACT

A data accumulation and transmission system wherein a plurality of independent data generators are sequentially triggered in such a manner that the rate of speed of the triggering pulse is much greater than the rate of speed of data production. Double counting is prevented by utilizing the trailing edge of each data pulse to reset the device which the triggering pulse sets. The data is communicated, for example, across a telephonic connection in a highly reliable manner by utilizing a clock to drive the data out of a shift register and to simultaneously gate-in the clock pulses with the data at the sending telephone.

United States Paten n 1 Krutz et a1.

[ May 1, 1973 [54] DATA ACCUMULATION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR USEBETWEEN REMOTE LOCATIONS AND A CENTRAL LOCATION [75] Inventors: RonaldL. Krutz; Thomas J. Villella,

both of New Kensington, Pa.

[7 3] Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: June 24,1970

21 App1.No.:49,235

[52] U.S. Cl ..340/163 R, 340/151 R, 340/147 LP [51] Int. Cl. ..H04q3/00 [58] Field of Search ..340/151 R, 163 R,

340/147 R,-147 LP [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1967Frielinghaus ..340/163 3,384,874 5/1968 Morley "340/163 3,408,62610/1968 Gabrielson .....340/l63 3,444,521 5/1969 Breese ..340/1633,445,815 5/1969 Saltzberg... ..340/163 3,529,293 9/1970 Sullivan..340/163 2,445,840 7/1948 Rauch.... ..340/147 CN 2,840,705 6/1958Scully ..340/147 CN 3,016,516 1/1962 D0ersam.. ..340/147 C 3,150,3749/1964 Sunstein ..340/147 C 3,173,094 3/1965 Hoegeman... ....340/147 CN3,397,386 8/1968 Bishup ..340/163 3,435,416 3/1969 Kretsch ..340/1633,484,694 12/1969 Br0thman.... ..340/151 X 3,508,200 4/1970 Joel..340/151 X 3,532,827 10/1970 Ewin .;...340/l5l X PrimaryExaminer-Harold 1. Pitts AttorneyMeyer Neishloss, Deane E. Keith andWilliam Kovensky [57] ABSTRACT A data accumulation and transmissionsystem wherein a plurality of independent data generators aresequentially triggered in such a manner that the rate of speed of thetriggering pulse is much greater than the rate of speed of dataproduction. Double counting is prevented by utilizing the trailing edgeof each data pulse to reset the device which the triggering pulse sets.The data is communicated, for example, across a telephonic connection ina highly reliable manner by utilizing a clock to drive the data out of ashift register and to simultaneously gate-in the clock pulses with thedata at the sending telephone.

41 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures D/SPLAY Patented May 1, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet3 DATA ACCUMULATION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR USE BETWEEN REMOTELOCATIONS AND A CENTRAL LOCATION This invention relates to datagathering and transmis sion systems, and more in particular pertains tosuch a system for use between a plurality of separated locations and acentral point, such as a computer center. The data is generated at eachof the separate locations by a plurality of separate and independentdevices or data generators. The central location, by means of atelephonic hook-up or other communication means, may interrogate each ofthe remote locations to gather the data from all of the data generatorsat that location.

As is obvious, such a system is useful in a varied and large number ofdifferent kinds of applications, such as transmission of credit cardsales data, inventory control, credit verification, remote reading ofmetering devices generally, and the like. However, the invention wasdeveloped specifically for and will be described primarily in connectionwith such a system for use between a data center connected to aplurality of otherwise conventional retail gasoline outlets or servicestations.

For ease of description, the invention may be thought of as comprisingtwo portions, which are in fact integrated together, but which lendthemselves to functional separation. These two portions are a datagathering system having a part in operative cooperation with each of thepumps in the station or other pulse data generators, and secondly a datatransmission system which includes commercially available telephonicdata transmission equipment, for example, data transmission equipment assupplied by the Bell Telephone Companies. Of course, the invention isnot limited to any particular model of such telephonic equipment or evento the telephone per se, since other means, such as telegraph lines,radio systems, or the like, could be used, with suitable changes in theapparatus of the invention. However, as mentioned above, this divisioninto sections is a matter of convenience only, since, in fact, a singlecircuit or black box could be provided at each service station with thedata pulses from each pump brought to a single piece of electronichardware in the station, or perhaps with satellite parts thereof at eachpump. Thus, each piece of apparatus at each station would includevirtually the entire invention, namely, the entire data gatheringsection and all of the data sending part of the data transmissionsection. The remainder of the apparatus of the invention, one piece ofequipment to service all of the remote locations, would comprise merelythe remainder of the data transmission section and some sort of datareceiving means such as a shift register and/or display. This is theform the prototype apparatus built to test the invention has taken.

The utility of the invention in the gasoline business is manifest, andincludes the capability of automated inventory control, automateddispatching of tank trucks to the stations, stock loss control,automated money accounting including service station billing, remotemeter reading, and the like. Further, starting from the system of theinvention as a base, still more sophisticated uses are possible, such asautomated credit card retailing which would include automatic billing ofthe customer, checking for expired or otherwise invalid credit cards,

and automated and more rapid customer billing which is worth substantialmonies to a major oil company by holding customer accounts receivable ata lower level.

Referring again to the artificial but convenient separation of theinvention into sections above, the data gathering section comprises ahighly versatile circuit adapted for use with virtually any numberofpumps in 'a conventional service station. In the specific form ofapparatus disclosed below, maximum capacity is ten pumps for one gradeof gasoline, but this number can be increased, almost without limit, foran exceptionally large station, or in other applications to which theinvention might be applied. More than ten pumps is somewhat unlikelybecause each grade of gasoline is handled separately, and it would be anexceptionally large station which would have more than ten pumps for onegrade.

One problem, overcome by the invention, flows from the fact that eachpump is a completely independent input device, that is, each pumpoperates or does not operate without regard to the others, and, whenoperating, can operate at an infinity of different speeds. In thespecific apparatus described below, five pumps for one grade are shownas a more or less arbitrary example of a typical installation. Each ofthe five pumps can operate or not operate without regard to the otherfour, and each can operate at many different speeds, although the mosttypical speed will be top speed as when the pump is operated under thecontrol of the automatic shut-off nonle. Thus, given the above as theenvironment of the invention and given that transducer means areprovided at each pump to transform the flow of gasoline into a stream ofelectrical pulses proportional to the liquid flow, as will appear in thedetailed description below, then the circuitry must be able toaccommodate, within one station, the possibility of simultaneouscreation of two or more pulses generated by two or more separate pumps.Further, the circuitry must never lose a pulse and must never createspurious or additional pulses. This high degree of reliability is neededfor proper inventory control and for proper financial control.

In overcoming these problems and achieving these goals, the inventionutilizes the fact that each of the random data pulse generators, eachpump, has a known maximum speed. The circuitry provides a continuously cfiulatin gitriggefihg pulse which' isitsedto pass the raw data pulsesthrough intermediate stages of the circuitry. The speed of thiscirculating triggering or gating pulse is caused to be much greater thanthe highest possible speed of data pulse generation, and this speedrelationship is utilized, as will be described in detail below, to solvethe simultaneous data pulse generation problem as well as to assurecorrect accumulation of the data.

The invention solves the potential problem of usage of the pump creatingfalse pulses by providing means to ground the input end of the circuitat all times except when the pump motor is operating.

The data transmission section of the invention is partly located at theservice station and operates in conjunction with the means utilized toaccumulate the data from one of the pumps, with some communication meanssuch as a data telephone hook-up, and finally with interrogation meansand data receiving means ineluding a display, a computer, and/or thelike, at the central location or data center. An essential here, againwith an eye to one of the prime pre-requisites of high reliability, isthe provision of means to provide a fiducial, clock, or control pulsewhich is transmitted with the data by the communication means from thestation to the data center, and, as will appear below, in the oppositedirection as well, so as to assure that only the data is counted, nodata is lost, and that no spurious or additional pulses are included.

Another problem is accommodating for the nature of the environment,e.g., the constant presence of 'automobiles having high voltage ignitioncircuits which could severely disrupt the intended operation ofelectronic pulse handling circuitry. The invention corrects for thispotential problem by providing suitable noise depressant means, such asgrounding the pump data generator after each sale, as will appear indetail below, using relatively noise immune logic components at theinput end, and using suitable RC protecting networks (loss pass filters)between each pump and the circuit of the invention.

The invention provides means to simplify the process of interrogation ofeach station by the central location while at the same time holding thecost of equipment required at each remote location to a minimum.Referring again to the artificial division of the invention intosections a unique interface is provided so that one data sendingapparatus at the station can accommodate as many separate data gatheringsystems as are present, for example, each grade of gasoline will requireits own data gathering section.

The above and other advantages of the invention will be pointed out orwill become evident in the following detailed description and claims,and in the accompanying drawing also forming a part of the disclosure,in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one type of environment in which theinvention may be used;

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the data accumulationsection;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the remainder of theapparatus of the invention which includes part of the data transmissionsection, the communication means, and the apparatus required at thecentral location or data center; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified sketch showing the manner of operation of a partof the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in FIG. 1 there is shown a pluralityof remote locations 10, which may be conventional retail gasolineservice stations. A central location 12, which may be a data center orcomputer center is joined to each of the stations by separatecommunication means such as separate telephonic hook-ups, whichcommunication means are indicated by the lines 14. Referring to FIG. 2,there is shown part of the installation at each of the stations 10, andrefer ring to FIG. 4, there is shown the remainder of each of theinstallations at each service station 10, the communication means 14,and the entire installation at the computer center or central location12.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, each service station 10 includes aseparate plurality of gasoline dispensing pumps 16 for each of thevarious grades of gasoline. In FIG. 2 there are shown five pumps 16 forone particular grade, it being understoodthat there will beapproximately five for each of the other grades sold by that station,and that the circuitry up to counter 40, as described below, will beduplicated for such other groups of pumps.

Means are provided within each pump in the station to convert the flowof gasoline through the pump into a stream of data pulses the rate ofwhich is proportional to the amount of liquid passing through the pump.Such pulse generating transducers are commercially available, oralternatively the apparatus disclosed in our copending patentapplication Ser. No. 815,838, filed Apr. 14, 1969, and entitled GasolinePump Computer, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,598,283, assigned to the sameassignee as the present invention, may be advantageously used. A line 18delivers the raw data pulses produced by such means in the pump 16 tofilterlike means 20 which serve to suppress noise produced by theproximity of high voltage automotive ignition systems, and to protectthe remainder of the circuitry. Filter means 20 include a low passfilter such as an RC network, and a relatively noise immune logic gage,or other suitable means well known to those skilled in the art. Afterfilters 20, the cleaned-up pulses are present on a pair of lines 22which feed the pulses to pulse passing means which may be a bistablemultivibrator or flip-flop 24. A signal inverting device 26 is includedin one line 22 of each pair. Each pulse is reproduced and supplied bythe lines 22 to the flip-flop 24 as both a negative-going and as apositive-going pulse, because such pulse treatment is required by thenature of the flip-flop, as is known.

Means are provided to assure that no spurious pulses are supplied tofilter means 20 and the remainder of the circuitry because of the mannerof usage of the pumps 16. Virtually all retail gasoline dispensing pumpsin use today have two manual controls; a switch or push-button whichresets the counting mechanism, and a switch which turns the pump motoron and off. The pump motor switch activator is usually a relativelyheavy piece of metal which includes a flange or other means to hold thegasoline dispensing nozzle, but only when the pump switch is in the Ohposition. The pump includes an interlock between these two controlswhich prohibits turning on the pump motor unless the counters are firstreset to zero, and which also prohibits resetting the counting mechanismunless the pump motor is off.

The potential problem which'is overcome by the switch arrangement of theinvention shown in FIG. 3 is that if the circuit is not grounded whilethe pump counting mechanism is being reset, then the circuitry of theinvention may see" the resetting motion of the counter mechanism aspulses. This potential source of error is eliminated by the provision ofa normally closed switch 15 wired between line 18 and a suitable groundin the pump and mechanically or otherwise connected to the manual pumpmotor control switch. The addition of such a switch is a simple matterfor a skilled mechanic. Since the pumps own interlock assures that thepump motor switch must be off in order to reset, thereby placing switch15 in its normally closed position, the FIG. 3 circuitry assures thatline 18 wiil be grounded during the act of resetting the pumps countingmechanism. The second switch 17, wired in parallel with switch 15,represents that part of the pulse generating transducer in the pump usedto produce the raw data pulses. Whatever such means 17 are used, theyare preferably arranged so that switch 17 is closed when the pumpscounting mechanism is at the zero position, thus assuring that thecircuitry is grounded after resetting is complete and before the nextpumping operation begins.

Thus, the FIG. 3 circuit assures that raw data pulses will be producedonly during the act of dispensing gasoline.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the flip-flops 24 require a triggering pulseto permit passage of signals from their input side, the lines 22, acrossto their output side, lines 28. The required triggering pulses areseparately supplied to each flip-flop on a line 30 running from thetiming means described further below. Flip-flop output line 28 deliverspulses to data pulse conditioning means which may be a one-shotmultivibrator 32, and a line 34 from each one-shot 32 delivers thepulses to data pulse accumulating means which may be an or gate 36.

Before proceeding deeper into the detailed description of the circuit,it should be understood that the schematic drawings forming part of thisdisclosure have been distilled from substantially more complex workingdrawings. Thus, this description is at least partly in functional terms,leaving much of the detail to the expertise of the worker skilled in theart. For example, in the successfully constructed and operatingprototype apparatus, the lines" 30 are not literally a single electricalconductor but each is a pair of such conductors, and may be conventionalwiring and internal circuitry of purchased components. Thus, the termline as used herein will be understood to mean one or more electricalconductors. Similarly, or" gate 36 is in fact a NAND gate, but it isfunctionally equivalent to an or gate. Many such simplifications havebeen made, but no additional ones will be pointed out, unless necessaryfor an understanding of the functioning of the circuit, since suchequipment, its capabilities, the interchangeability of such components,an such techniques, are well within the skill of the ordinary worker inthe art.

The output signals from or" gate 36 are fed on a line 38 to suitablecounting means, which may be a multi-stage binary coded decimal (BCD)counter 40. A counter 40, see FIG. 5, is required for each grade ofgasoline, and all the circuitry of FIG. 2, with the exception of thetiming means, is provided for each different set of pumps 16. The lines30 are shown broken to indicate that the timing means are shared. Aswill appear in detail in the Operation" section below, the essentialtiming required for operation of the invention is provided by a device42 which may be thought of as a clock in that it continuously producespulses at a regular frequency. Such clocks are commercially availablewith means to vary the period of the pulses. In any particularinstallation, one clock frequency will usually be sufficient, but theadjustable feature may be desired for more versatility or where theinvention is used in some other environment. The timing pulses producedby clock 42 at a frequency of T pulses per unit time are present on aline 44. The pulses on line 44 may be either positive-going -ornegative-going, depending upon the required interaction with the othercomponents used in constructing any specific apparatus in accordancewith the invention. In the successfully constructed embodiment of theinvention these pulses are positive-going.

As is known, the description positive-going" or negative-going refers tothe nature of the pulse. That is, assuming the pulse is of squareshaped, then in the direction of the progression of time the first legof the square either rises from whatever the base value is being used tosome higher positive value (positive-going), or conversely, falls fromthe base value to some less positive value, (negative-going). Theconcept of zero as a base should be avoided since the base itself couldhave a positive or a negative value.

The clock pulses on line 44 feed the input side of a single stage BCDcounter 48. As is known, and as is explained in detail in our previouspatent referred to above, device 48 is a commercially available itemwhich counts the pulses received on input line 44 and produces codedpulses on a set of lines 50 representative of the numbers 0 through 9.Counter 48 has the capacity to count as high as 15, but it isconstrained, by simple alteration, to count up to 9 only. The codedsignals on lines 50 feed the input side of a decoding device 52, whichchanges the binary code decimal signals to true decimal signals suppliedon the output lines 30 described below. Thus, components 48 and 52operating together may be thought of as a single decimal counter, andare used for all the sets of pumps in the station.

The circuitry of FIG. 2, with the exception of the data pulse generatorsin the pumps 16, is advantageously all solid-state, rather than vacuumtube, so as to yield the advantages of lower power and voltagerequirements, smaller size, and rugged, reliable and relativelyinexpensive construction.

As is .now evident, each remote location will have a number of counters40 equal to the number of different grades of gasoline sold at thatstation. Typically, there are three grades. Referring to FIG. 5, thethree .counters are indicated as 40-1, 40 -2 and 40-3, and the manner oftheir connection to the shift register 54 of .FIG. 4 is diagrammaticallyshown. The concept underlying FIG. 5 is that the three data accumulationcircuits, each like FIG. 2, are interfaced with the single datatransmission circuit, FIG. 4, by providing one shift register 54 largeenough to accommodate all the counters 40. Thus, when the centrallocation interrogates a station all the data as to all three grades ofgasoline will be sent out in onecontinuous stream, thereby eliminatingthe need to make a separate interrogation in regard to each grade ofgasoline. The data for each grade can be separated at the centrallocation 12 in a variety of ways, such as by providing means to insert adummy between the data for each grade, or some symbol other than anumber between grades, or by simply physically separating the threedisplays at the data center, the number of digits per grade beingknown.Other ways of achieving data separation will be obvious to those skilledin the art.

Thus, the arrangement of FIG. 5 allows parallel data accumulation fromindependent counters, and sequential data transmission of the compositedata count.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown the remainder of the circuitryat remote location 10, all'of the circuitry at the central location 12,and the telephonic communication means interconnecting the twolocations. The FIGS. 2 and 4 circuitry are connected together betweenthe counters 40 and a shift register 54. The connection is indicated bythe: sets of lines 56 which interconnect the respective stages of allthe counters 40 and shift register 54. These two components, 40 and 54,are shown broken in the drawing to indicate that any number of countingstages could be utilized. The shift register 54, however, will have atleast one more stage 58 than the sum of all the stages of counters 40.The additional stage 58 comprises means to manually set a numberthereon, not shown, which number will identify the particular station10, the first location, to the data center 12, the second or centrallocation. If required, of course, the extra stage 58 could comprise morethan one stage, dependent upon the number of remote locations beingserviced. The shift register may require two or more additional stagesto accommodate the intradata dummies, symbols, or the like, if such areused.

The showing of a shift register is exemplitive only, and, as will appearmore clearly in the Operation section below, the term shall beunderstood to include any sort of device in which data is stored andmoved in a sequential fashion, rather than along parallel lines or inany other manner. As is now clear, the two artificial portions of theinvention, the circuitry of FIGS. 2 'and 4 is artificial in the sensethat in the intended use of the invention they are integrated together.The two sections have separate utility. For example, the FIG. 2circuitry could end at the counter 40, with perhaps the addition of somedisplay means, where it is desired to only accumulate the total count ofthe data'pulse generators at a single location and not to transmit thedata to some other location. Similarly, the data transmission means ofFIG. 4 can be used in any environment where it is desired to transmit adata count from a shift register at one location to some datareceiving'means at some other location, where the two locations arephysically separated from each other but connected together by somecommunication means.

As is known, each set of lines in the sets 56 consists of four lines,as'four is the number of signals needed to represent any single digitnumber in the BCD code.

The timing of the operation of several components in the FIG. 4circuitry is critical, and all of these portions are connected to asingle timing or control source, which may comprise the clock 42 ofFIG.'2. Referring to FIG. 4, a tap from line 44 feeds a frequencydivider circuit 60, which circuit may be any one of a wide variety ofsuch commercially available items. The out- .put-of divider 60 ispresent on a line 62, and comprises Circuit Data Book, Aug. 1968. Line62 feeds various parts of theFIG. 4 circuitry, as described below. v

Communication means 14 will advantageously com- "prise equipmentintended to work in conjunction with the commercial telephone network.In the form of the invention constructed to data-a Bell TelephoneCompany 40l I-I data transmitter and 401 I data receiver were used.These instruments have a number of connecting points or terminals oneach side to which the user may attach whatever equipment he desires solong as his equipment will perform the function required by the specialtelephone at those terminals. Referring to the right side of FIG. 4,which corresponds to the data center, a pair of lines 64 and 66 connectthe appropriate terminals on the data center special telephone 144 to aswitching device 68. Device 68 is not supplied by the telephone company.A switching member 70 on device 68, in conjunction with data set 140,renders the data set in condition to transmit and receive eitherdata ornormal voice.

The overall manner of using data set 14a and the sending data set 14b atthe remote location is first to send a signal from the data center tothe station which may be thought of as the "transmit command." Thiscommand signal enables the transmitting station, or remote location, tobegin sending data. When the data centers telephone must be renderedinto a different configuration in order to receive the data, and acorresponding change of configuration must take place at the sendinglocation. The above sequence of events is a result of the fact that theparticular telephones used are capable of unidirectional transmissiononly. The telephone company and others do have equipment available whichcan transmit data in both directions simultaneously, but such equipmentis considerably more expensive, tov either purchase or rent, than thesimpler equipment around which this portion of the invention has beenbuilt. The simpler, less expensive equipment was used because nosubstantial loss of speed is suffered, and substantial economies arerealized. I

In addition to the lines 64 and 66 described above, six additionalcontacts on receiving equipment 14a are utilized and these are connectedto lines 72, 74, 76, 78, and 82 respectively. There are other terminalson the particular equipment 14a used to provide a second channel, but asecond channel is not utilized in the invention and therefore is notshown. The lines 72 and 74 connect to the opposite sides of a pair ofnormally closed contacts 86 on a relay 84. When contacts 86 are closed,receiver 14a is in condition to receive data, and when the contacts 86are open, equipment 14a is in condition to send the transmit command tothe data sending equipment 14b. The coil 88 of relay 84 is connected bya line 90 to the Q terminal of a one-shot multivibrator 92.

The next pair of lines 76 and 78 are used to send the transmit command,and these lines run to the opposite sides of the normally open contacts96 of a relay 94, the coil 98 of which is connected by a line 100 to theterminal of one-shot 92. As mentioned above, the schematic of FIG. 4 issimplified, and certain parts, such as current amplifiers or buffers inthe lines 90 and 100 and suitable diodes or othersuitable protectionmeans for the coils 88 and 98 have been omitted.

The remaining two lines 80, and 82 are used to receive data and gated.clock or contro l pulses from the remote location 10 via thecommunication means 14. These lines terminate at a receiving shiftregister 102. An extensipn of line 90 extends to the reset terminal onshift register A cable 104 interconnects shift re- Completing the righthand side of FIG. 4 there is provided switch means such as a manually ormechanically operated switch 108, the normally open terminal of which isconnected by a line 110 to the set (S) terminal of a flip-flop 112, andthe normally closed terminal of which is connected by a line 114 to thereset (R) terminal of flip-flop 112. A line 116 interconnects the outputof the flip-flop 1 l2 and the input of one-shot 92.

Referring to the left side of FIG. 4, the transmitting data setcomprises seven lines, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 and 130. Lines 126,128 and 130 service the contacts on a pair of relays 132 and 134. Relay132 comprises a pair of normally open contacts 136 and a coil 138, andrelay 134 comprises a pair of normally open contacts 140 and a coil 142.Line 128, known as the phone-common, is connected to one side of each ofthe contacts 136 and 140. Line 126 connects to the other side ofcontacts 136 and line 130 connects to the other side of contacts 140.One side of coil 138 is suitably grounded, and the other side of saidcoil is con nected to a line 144 which connects to the output side of anand gate 146. Similarly, a line 148 extends from coil 142 to the outputside of an and gate 150. Extensions of line 62, carrying the controlpulses at frequency t, comprise one of the two inputs to each of andgates 146 and 150. A line 152 extending from the output of shiftregister 54 comprises the second input to and gate 150, and a line 154comprises the second input to and gate 146. As will appear below,

the array of components 132 through 154 are used to simultaneouslydeliver each control pulse and each data bit for transmission acrosscommunication means 14 and reception by the shift register 102 at thereceiving side.

The normally open contacts 158 on a relay 156 are serviced by the lines122 and 124, and the coil 160 of said relay is suitably grounded on oneside and connected to a line 162 on the other side. Relay 156 controlsthe condition of receiving portion 14b as to whether it will send orreceive signals, as will appear in the Operation section below. 1. A

Line 120, which includes a suitable amplifier 164, feeds pulses fromtransmitter 14b to a pulse shaper 166 the output of which is fed on aline 168 to an or gate 170. The output line 172 from or gate 170 feedsthe R terminal of bistable multivibrator 174 which is called thetransmit enable flip-flop. Line 162, feeding coil 160 of relay 156, isthe output line of flip-flop 174. Line 1 18 from the communication meansincludes a suitable amplifier 176, and thereafter breaks into two branchlines, one of which feeds the set or S terminal of flip-flop 174, andthe other one of which feeds the pulse shaping and time delay means 178.A line 180 connects the output of means 178 to the K terminal of a shiftenable flipflop 182. The other inputs to flip-flop 182 are a line 184 atits J terminal, and the control pulses at frequency t on line 62 at itsC terminal. A line 186 is connected to the output of shift enableflip-flop 182.

Line 186 is one of the inputs to an and" gate 188, the other input ofwhich is delivered on a line 190. Line 190 connects to the output of aNAND gate 192. As is known, a NAND gate is an and" gate plus aninverter, so that the output will be high at all times except when allof its inputs are high. Line 184, described above, including an inverter194, branches off from line 190, and also branches off to the J terminalof another flipflop 196. The K terminal of flip-flop 196 is connected bya line 198 to the output of an and gate 200. The output of flip-flop 196is carried on line 154, described above, which also connects to shiftregister 54. A threeway branching line 202 interconnects the output ofand gate 188, one of the inputs to and gate 200, and shift register 54.Line 190 from NAND gate 192 interconnects the second input of and" gate200, one of the inputs to and gate 188, as described above, and theinput of a second pulse shaper and delay circuit, similar to circuitry178 described above. A line 206 interconnects the output of circuitry204 and the second input terminal ofor gate 170.

OPERATION Referring back to FIG. 2, each of the pumps 16 is free tooperate independently of all the others. The clock 42 operatescontinuously, continuously driving the counter 48 and the decoder 52.Thus, a circulating triggering pulse is sequentially present on thelines 30 to the data pulse passing flip-flops 24. It is an importantaspect of the present invention that the frequency of the triggeringpulse on any one of the lines 30 be greater than the data pulsefrequency produced by the pumps 16 at their maximum speed. A specificexample may be helpful in explaining this point. It is a fair assumptionthat commercial gasoline vending pumps have a maximum speed of 12gallons a minute. As disclosed and explained in our previous patentmentioned above, it is sufficient to use a transducer which will produce10 data pulses per gallon of gasoline. pulses per gallon could be usedif more resolution is required. Thus, at the pumps top speed, pulses aminute or two data pulses a second will be produced. In the operatingprototype of the invention, clock 42 produces pulses at the rate of1,000 per second. Counter 48 keeps counting these and supplies signalscorresponding to the digits zero through nine on its output lines 50.Therefore, there is a signal on any one line 30 corresponding to one ofthe digits zero to nine at the rate of 100 times a second. Thus, thetriggering pulse is present at any one flip-flop 24 at 50 times themaximum rate of speed of the production of data pulses by the pump 16associated with that flip-flop.

Because there happened to be five pumps in this example, it is possibleto double the rate of speed of the circulation of triggering pulsesaround the flip-flops 24 by using two digits for each flip-flop. Thatis, zero and five to control one flip-flop, one and six to control thenext, etc. Not all the digits need be used, which might be necessary incertain situations, e.g., if between six and eight pumps are to beincluded. Other arrangements will present themselves to those skilled inthe art since the timing means are shared by all the sets of pumps inthe station, only one set being shown.

The data pulses, after being cleaned-up" by the filter means 20, passthrough the parallel lines 22 and inverter 26 to the input terminals offlip-flop 24. Since the circulating triggering pulse is so much fasterthan the data pulses, the invention assures that no data pulses will belost because even if two pumps should produce a data pulsesimultaneously, one will ,in effect wait at the input to its flip-flopuntil the triggering pulse circulates around to allow it through.However, by so providing the speed difference to assure that no pulsesare lost, the equipment has the potential of counting the same datapulse more than one time. This potential problem is overcome byproviding a one-shot multivibrator 32 of such a character that itresponds to only a falling edge of the output of flip-flop 24.Subsequent triggering pulses on the line 30 do not cause multiplecounting, and the circuit is independent of the width of the data pulse,because once a flip-flop 24 is set by the simultaneous presence of a rawdata pulse on line 22 and a timing pulse on line 30, it remains set andinsensitive to additional timing pulses until it senses the tail andfalling edge of the raw data pulse. The flip-flop resets after thefalling edge occurs and after the next timing pulse occurs, therebyrendering it ready to receive the next data pulse while simultaneouslydriving multivibrator 32 to put out a pulse to counter 40 via gate 36. i

The outputs of the one-shots 32 then pass through the lines 34, the orgate 36 and line 38 to the counter 40. Because the firing of theone-shots corresponds to the movement of the circulating triggeringpulse on the line 30, and because of the extremely high response speedof the solid state components used, there is virtually no'possibility ofa data pulse being lost in its passage through the or gate 36.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the sets of lines 56 cause shift register 58 tovirtually instantaneously follow the count as it proceeds on all thecounters 40. Each section of the shift register 58 associated with eachcounter operates independently of the other parts of the shift registerduring this operation. Nothing further occurs in the circuitry of FIG. 4until the data center interrogates the remote location to request itscount. The sequence of events, thereafter, is:

1. Device 68 must be put in the data mode.

2. The number of the transmitting data set 14b is dialed from the datareceiver 14a (either manually or by computer), connection is completed,and the receiver data set put in the data mode.

. Switch 108 is operated momentarily and the transmit command isgenerated. Upon receipt of the transmit command from the receivingcircuitry, shift register 54 at the transmitter is isolated from allcounters 40 so that the counters are free to continue operating, and theshift register holds the one composite number which will betransmitted.

The data is transmitted across the communication means to the shiftregister 102.

6. FIG. 4 circuitry is returned to the ready condition.

7. Shift register 54 is reconnected to the counters 40.

Developing these steps in detail, the operation of switch 108 causesflip-flop 112 to change states, and produces a signal on line 1 16feeding one-shot 92. Prior to this occurrence, a signal was present atterminal Q and line 100, holding contacts 96 of relay 94 closed.

When the one-shot 92 tires, contact Q becomes activated and contact 6becomes deactivated. Thus, line becomes conducting, resetting shiftregister 102 and activating coil 88 of relay 84. Contacts 86 on saidrelay open, thus rendering receiver 14a in condition to send thetransmit command. Simultaneously, coil 98 of relay 94 becomesdeactivated, opening contacts 96, and the transmit command is sent outacross the communication means from 14a to 14b. One-shot 92 thencompletes its timing cycle, reactivating terminal Q, deactivatingterminal Q, thus deactivating coil 88, thus allowing contacts 86 toreturn to their normally closed position, thus rendering receiving side14a ready to receive data.

The above chain of events cause certain corresponding occurrences on the1412 sending side. Prior to any transmit command, a signal wasautomatically generated and was present on line 120. This signal isproduced by transmitter 14b when connection between it and receiver 14awas completed. The automatically generated signal is then fed to buffer164, shaped by device166, and fed through or gate and through line 172to reset flip-flop 174. No signal is thus assured on line 162, renderingcoil 160 deactivated and contacts 158 in their normally open condition.When contacts 158 are open, transmitter portion 14b is ready' to receivethe transmit command signal. Upon receipt of the transmit command signalfrom 14a at 1417, that signal is present on line 118, is fed throughgate 176, and proceeds to perform two functions along the parallelbranch lines 118. Firstly, the transmit command changes the state offlip-flop 174 to its set condition, creating a'holding voltage on line162, and closing contacts 158 by the chain of events described above.Lines 122 and124 are thus shorted rendering transmitter 14b in conditionto transmit data. Simultaneously, the transmit command signal is sent topulse shaping and time delay circuitry 178. A delay is required becausethe remaining equipment described below is all solid state, whereas theenabling equipment described above includes mechanical relays whichrequire longer periods of time to operate. After the delay, the transmitcommand proceeds on line to the K terminal of the shift enable flip-flop182, thus causing output line 186 to conduct. And" gate 200, whenactivated by signals on its two input lines 202 and 190,-provides asignal on its output line 198 to isolate shift register 54 from thecounters 40 via flip-flop 196 prior to data transmission from 14b to140. As will appear below, the same components operate to reconnectshift register 54 to the counters 40 at the end of data transmission.And" gate 188, which is actually a NAND gate, is needed for a signalinversion, and in other embodiments it could be omitted if such aninversion is not required.

NAND gate 192 is high at all times except at the end of the shift whenit momentarily goes low. This is so because the input to gate 192 is thebinary coded numbers corresponding to the count it is desired totransmit. Since each stage is limited to a count of nine, and since allthe inputs from any stage could be conducting only if that one stagewere thereby producing a set of signals corresponding to the number 15,then it is certain that there will always be at least one signal in eachset of four from each stage which will be low or a zero" in binaryjargon. So long as even one input to gate 192 is low, then the output ofthe gate will be high. To insure this desideratum, by means describedbelow, there is inserted a binary zero behind the data prior totransmission. Since there is a signal on line 190 there is a signal toone of the inputs to each of and gates 188 and 200. When flip-flop 182receives an input on its K terminal, the second input to and gate 188 ispresent causing it to produce an output on line 202, causing the secondinput to be present on and" gate 200, causing flip-flop 196 to receivean input on its K terminal. A signal is then present on line 154 fromthe output of flip-flop 196, causing two different chain of events inthe circuitry. First, the output of 196 on the vertical leg of line 154to the shift register 54 provides an initial followed by a series of 1swhich follow the data through shift register 54 during datatransmission. The other branch of line 154 provides a l gating signal toand" gate 146 which allows fiducial, control, or clock pulses to flowinto the data set 14b.

Now the continuously supplied control pulses on line 62 at frequency 1feeding shift register 54 and and gates 146 and 150, and relays 132 and134 causes the data and a train of fiducial or gated control pulses tobe transmitted from 14b to 14a and on to lines 80 and 82 to the shiftregister 102 at the data center.

A shift register is well known in the art. However, the followinganalogy may be helpful to illustrate its operation and to better explainthe manner of operation of the invention. The shift register may bethought of as a corridor in which a line of soldiers of no more than acertain number can stand single file. The soldiers correspond to thedata bits which may be either high or low, one or zero in binarynomenclature. If another soldier pushes in at one end of the line thenone soldier will be forced out at the opposite end of the line. Applyingthis analogy in the present invention, the control pulses, all high,feeding in at the right hand side on line 62 one by one push the datapulses out the left hand end on line 52 feeding and gate 150. The firstdata pulses will be the station identification number. When all the databits have been replaced by control pulses, all high or ls, then thecircuitry will reset, as will be explained belowv Each data bit, orabsence of a data bit, is transmitted by operating or not operating coil142 of relay 134. Simultaneously, at the rate of speed determined by thecontrol pulse frequency t a fiducial will definitely be transmitted byoperating the coil 138 relay 132. Each control pulse on line 62 is oneinput to both and gates 146 and 150, since a steady signal is present online 154, relay 132 will operate to send out a fiducial on line 126corresponding to each control pulse. 1n the event there is a high databit on line 152, the communication means 14 will simultaneously transmitit since relay 134 will operate to send that high data bit out on line130.

After all the data is thus shifted out, NAND gate 192 momentarily goeslow since all its inputs are high, the shift register is full of ls, andline 190 momentarily stops conducting. Inverter 194 activates the twobranch lines 184 to cause the two flip-flops 182 and 196 to change backto their set or ready states. Line 186 thus stops conducting, thusdeactivating and" gates 188 and 200, as well as reconnecting the shiftregister 54 to the counter 40 by means of the absence of a signal online 202.

Line 190 deactivating provides a pulse to component 204, and after thedelay thereof, puts transmitter 14b into a state ready to receive thenext transmit command to initiate the next transmission cycle. Thisresetting occurs via line 206, gate 170, line 172, flip-flop 174, line162, and to relay 156 to open the connection between lines 122 and 124.The delay of component 204 is provided to assure that the last data bitis sent out by relays 132 and 134 before the transmitter is reset asdescribed above.

In the particular application of retail gasoline marketing describedherein, relatively slow timing (in the milliseconds to microsecondsrange) is all that is required, thus permitting the use of relativelyinexpensive logic circuitry. Another associated advantage is that theembodiment of the invention described lends itself to implementation bylarge scale integrated circuitry, which yields the advantages of stillsmaller size, high reliability and low power consumption.

While the invention has been described in detail above, it is to beunderstood that this detailed description is by way of example only, andthe protection granted is to be limited only within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A method for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality of datapulse generators, wherein each data pulse generator is capable ofproducing a stream of data pulses independently of all of the other datapulse generators of said plurality, comprising the steps of supplyingeach data pulse of each stream of data pulse from each data pulsegenerator to a separate data pulse passing means, sequentially supplyinga triggering pulse to each of the data pulse passing means at afrequency greater than the maximum frequency of data pulse generation byeach of said data pulse generators, causing each data pulse passingmeans to produce an output when said data pulse passing meanssimultaneously senses a data pulse and a triggering pulse on its inputside, and causing said data pulse passing means to be insensitive toadditional triggering pulses to produce an additional output after ithas so simultaneously sensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse untilafter said data pulse passing means has sensed the falling edge of saidlast mentioned data pulse, thereafter causing said data pulse passingmeans to be ready to produce another output upon the simultaneouspresence of another data pulse and another triggering pulse at its inputside after it has sensed said falling edge of said last mentioned datapulse, whereby said data pulse passing means produces only one outputfor each data pulse regardless of any additional triggering pulsesupplied to said data pulse passing means while each data pulse ispresent at the input side of said data pulse passing means.

2. The method of claim 1, and filtering each data pulse from a datapulse generator before it is passed to its associated data pulse passingmeans.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said triggering pulses are produced bydecimal counting means, and said sequential operation is achieved bydirecting triggering pulses from successive decimal numeral locations onsaid counting means to each of said data pulse passing meanssequentially.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data pulse generators comprisinga plurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumpsincludes transducer means for transforming the flow of gasolintherethrough into said steam of data pulses.

5. The method of claim 1, each of said data pulse passing meanscomprising a bistable multivibrator.

6. A method of communicating a data count from a first location acrosscommunication means having at least two channels to a second location,comprising the steps of causing the data count to be present on a shiftregister at said first location, producing a continuous stream ofcontrol pulses at a predetermined frequency, and simultaneouslysupplying said stream of control pulses to said shift register and tothe portion of said communication means at said first location tosimultaneously transmit each data bit from said shift register acrossone of said at least two channels of said communication means togetherwith a control pulse across another of said at least two channels ofsaid communication means to said second location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein aid communication means comprises atelephonic connection between said first and second locations, whereineach data bit is simultaneously transmitted across said communicationmeans together with a control pulse by causing each control pulse byitself to activate the coil of a first relay of a pair of relays, and tosimultaneously activate the coil of the second of said pair of relaysonly if a high" data bit from said shift register is also present at theinput of the coil of said second relay.

8. The method of claim 6, additionally comprising the step of supplyinga number on said shift register in addition to the data count thereon toidentify said first location to said second location.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said data count is made up of the datacounts on a plurality of independent data counters, and wherein saidshift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the data countson all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data is suppliedto said shift register from said counters independently and in paralleland is moved out of said shift register all together and sequentially.

10. A circuit for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality ofdata pulse generators, each of said data pulse generators being operableto produce a stream of data pulses independently of all of the otherdata pulse generators of said plurality, said circuit comprising a datapulse passing means connected to each of said data pulse generators,said circuit comprising timing means which includes clock means forproducing a continuous stream of timing pulses at a predeterminedfrequency, said timing means comprising triggering means driven by saidtiming pulses for sequentially directing a triggering pulse to each ofsaid data pulse passing means, wherein said predetermined frequency oftiming pulse production by said clock means divided by the number ofsaid data pulse generators is greater than the maximum frequency of datapulse generation by each of said data pulse generators; each of saiddata pulse passing means being of such a nature that it produces anoutput upon simultaneously sensing a data pulse and a triggering pulseon its input side, that is is insensitive to additional triggeringpulses to produce additional outputs after it has so simultaneouslysensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse until after it has sensed thefalling edge of said last mentioned data pulse, and that it will berendered ready to produce another output after it has so sensed thefalling edge of said last mentioned data pulse and upon the simultaneouspresence thereafter of another data pulse and another triggering pulse;whereby, said data pulse passing means produces only one output for eachdata pulse regardless of any additional triggering pulse sup plied tosaid data pulse passing means while each data pulse is present at theinput side of said data pulse passing means, and said circuit furthercomprising means for counting all of the data pulses passing all of saiddata pulse passing means.

11. The method of claim 10, said clock means including means to producesaid timing pulses at different predetermined frequencies.

12. The combination of claim 10, said circuit, with the exclusion ofsaid data pulse generators, comprising solely solid-state electroniccomponents.

13. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse generators comprising aplurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumpsincluding transducer means for transforming the flow of gasolinetherethrough into said stream of data pulses.

14. The combination of claim 10, each of said data pulse passing meanscomprising a bistable multivibrator.

15. The combination of claim 14, said circuit comprising a filterinterposed between each of said data pulse generators and its associatedbistable multivibrator.

16. The combination of claim 10, said triggering means comprisingdecimal counter means for counting the timing pulses produced by saidclock means, said decimal counter sequentially operating each of saiddata pulses passing means by directing triggering pulses from successivedecimal numeral locations thereon to each of said data pulse passingmeans sequentially.

17. The combination of claim 16, said decimal counter means comprising aBCD counter having its input side connected to said clock means and aone-often decoder having its input side connected to the output side ofsaid BCD counter.

18. The combination of claim 10, data pulse counting means includingdata pulse conditioning means which comprises a oneshot multivibrator.

19. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse counting meansincluding data pulse accumulating means which comprises an or" gatehaving its input side operatively cooperable with the outputs of all ofthe data pulse passing means.

20. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse counting meanscomprising a multi-stage BCD counter operatively cooperable with theoutput sides of all of said data pulse passing means.

21. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse counting meanscomprising a oneshot multivibrator connected to the output of each ofsaid data pulse passing means, an or" gate having its inputconnected tothe outputs of all of said one-shot multivibrators, and a multistage BCDcounter connected to the output of said "or gate.

22. A system for communicating a data count present on a shift registerat a first location across communication means having at least twochannels to data receiving means at a second location which is remotefrom the first location, switch means at said second location fortransmitting a transmit command from said second location to said firstlocation across said communication means, clock means at said firstlocation for producing a continuous stream of control pulses at apredetermined frequency, and said first location comprising circuitmeans for simultaneously supplying said control pulses to both saidshift register and said communication means and for interconnecting saidshift register and said communication means to simultaneouslytransmit'each bit of data in said shift register across one channel ofsaid communication means and one control pulse across another channel ofsaid communication means to said second location.

23. The combination of claim 22, said circuit means comprising an arrayof a pair of relays and an and gate associated with the coil of each ofsaid relays, each of said relays comprising a pair of normally opencontacts connected to said communication means in such a manner thatclosing of said contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across aseparate channel of said communication means, each of said and" gateshaving a pair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said and" gatescomprising said continuous stream of control pulses, the second input ofone of said and gates comprising a steady signal, the other of saidinputs of the and gates comprising the output of said shift register,circuit means interconnecting the output of each of said and gates withthe coil of a respective one of said relays in such a manner as to closethe contacts of each of said relays when each of said and gates producesan output pulse, whereby one of said channels of said communicationmeans will transmit one pulse for each control pulse and the other ofsaid channels will simultaneously transmit a pulse only when a high databit pulse is present at the output of said shift register, and wherebysaid stream of control pulses also controls the progression of the databits in said shift register corresponding to the data count on saidshift register out of said shift register.

24. The combination of claim 22, said communication means comprising atelephonic connection between said first and second locations.

25. The combination of claim 22, and said shift register furthercomprising manually controllable means for permitting creation of anadditional number on said shift register in addition to the numberscorresponding to said data count, whereby said additional number may beused for purposes of identifying said first location to said secondlocation.

26. The combination of claim 22, said data receiving means comprising asecond shift register and means to display the data count receivedthereon from said first location.

27. The combination of claim 26, said data receiving means furthercomprising a computer, and means interconnecting said computer and saidswitch means for causing automatic operation of said switch means.

28. The combination of claim 22, wherein said data count is made up ofthe data counts on a plurality of independent data counters, and whereinsaid shift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the datacounts on all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data issupplied to said shift register from said counters independently and inparallel and is moved out of said shift register all together andsequentially.

29. A system for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality ofdata generators and for communicating the accumulated data count from afirst location across communication means to a second location remotefrom said first location, each of said data pulse generators beingoperable to produce a stream of data pulses independently of all of theother data pulse generators of said plurality, a data pulse passingmeans connected to each of said data pulse generators, timing meansincluding clock means for producing a continuous stream of timing pulsesat a predetermined frequency, said timing means comprising triggeringmeans for sequentially directing a triggering pulse to each of said datapulse passing means, wherein said predetermined frequency of timingpulse production by said clock means divided by the number of said datapulse generators is greater than the maximum frequency of datafpulsegeneration by each of said data pulse generators, each of said datapulse passing means being of such a nature that it is rendered operativeto pass a data pulse from its associated data pulse generatortherethrough and onto subsequent portions of the system upon receipt ofa triggering pulse and of such a nature that is rendered inoperative toso pass a data pulse upon passage therethrough of a selected portion ofeach data pulse, circuit means for directing all of the data pulsespassing all of said data pulse passing means to a shift register tothereby create a data count on said shift register, said shift registerbeing located at said first location, data receiving means at saidsecond location, switch means at said second location for transmitting atransmit command from said second location to said first location acrosssaid communication means, said first location comprising said circuitmeans for supplying said continuous stream of timing pulses to both saidshift register and said communication means simultaneously and forinterconnecting said shift register and said communication means,whereby said communication means simultaneously transmits each data bitin said shift register together with one timing pulse to said secondlocation.

30. The combination of claim 29, frequency divider means at said firstlocation for changing the predetermined frequency of the timing pulsessupplied to said shift register and said communication means, wherebythe timing of the data accumulation may be different from the timing ofthe data transmission.

31. The combination of claim 29, said data pulse generators comprising aplurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumpsincluding transducer means for transforming the flow of gasolinetherethrough into said stream of data pulses.

32. The combination of claim 29, each of said data pulse passing meanscomprising a bistable multivibrator.

33. The combination of claim 32, said circuit comprising a filterinterposed between each of said data pulse generators and its associatedbistable multivibrator.

34. The combination of claim 29, said triggering means comprisingdecimal counter means for counting the timing pulses produced by saidclock means, said decimal counter sequentially operating each of saiddata pulses passing means by directing triggering pulses from successivedecimal numeral locations thereon to each of said data pulse passingmeans sequentially.

35. The combination of claim 29, and data pulse counting means, saiddata pulse counting means comprising a one-shot multivibrator connectedto the output of each of said data pulse passing means, an or" gatehaving its input connected to the outputs of all of said one-shotmultivibrators, and a multi-stage BCD counter connected to the output ofsaid or gate.

36. The combination of claim 29, said circuit means comprising an arrayof a pair of relays and an and" gate associated with the coil of each ofsaid relays, each of said relays comprising a pair of normally opencontacts connected to said communication means in such a manner thatclosing of said contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across aseparate channel of said communication means, each of said and gateshaving a pair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said and" gatescomprising said continuous stream of control pulses, the second input ofone of said and gates comprising a steady signal, the other of saidinputs of the and gates comprising the output of said shift register,circuit means interconnecting the output of each of said and gates withthe coil of a respective one of said relays in such a manner as to closethe contacts of each of said relays when each of said and" gatesproduces an output pulse, whereby one of said channels of saidcommunication means will transmit one pulse for each control pulse andthe other of said channels will simultaneously transmit a pulse onlywhen a high data bit pulse is present at the output of said shiftregister, and whereby said stream of control pulses also controls theprogression of the data bits in said shift register corresponding to thedata count on said shift register out of said shift register.

37. The combination of claim 29, said communication means comprising atelephonic connection between said first and second locations.

38. The combination of claim 29, and said shift register furthercomprising manually controllable means for permitting creation of anadditional number on said shift register in addition to the numberscorresponding to said data count, whereby said additional number may beused for purposes of identifying said first location to said secondlocation.

39. The combination of claim 29, said data receiving means comprising asecond shift register and means to display the data count receivedthereon from said first location.

40. The combination of claim 39, said data receiving means furthercomprising a computer, and means interconnecting said computer and saidswitch means for causing automatic operation of said switch means.

41. The combination of claim 29, said plurality of data pulse generatorsconsisting of a plurality of groups of data pulse generators, saidcircuit including a separate and independent data counter for each groupof data pulse generators, wherein said data count is made up of the datacounts of said plurality of independent data counters, and wherein saidshift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the data countson all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data is suppliedto said shift register from said counters independently and in paralleland is moved out of said shift register all together and sequentially.

1. A method for accumulating data pulses produced by a plurality of datapulse generators, wherein each data pulse generator is capable ofproducing a stream of data pulses independently of all of the other datapulse generators of said plurality, comprising the steps of supplyingeach data pulse of each stream of data pulse from each data pulsegenerator to a separate data pulse passing means, sequentially supplyinga triggering pulse to each of the data pulse passing means at afrequency greater than the maximum frequency of data pulse generation byeach of said data pulse generators, causing each data pulse passingmeans to produce an output when said data pulse passing meanssimultaneously senses a data pulse and a triggering pulse on its inputside, and causing said data pulse passing means to be insensitive toadditional triggering pulses to produce an additional output after ithas so simultaneously sensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse untilafter said data pulse passing means has sensed the falling edge of saidlast mentioned data pulse, thereafter causing said data pulse passingmeans to be ready to produce another output upon the simultaneouspresence of another data pulse and another triggering pulse at its inputside after it has sensed said falling edge of said last mentioned datapulse, whereby said data pulse passing means produces only one outputfor each data pulse regardless of any additional triggering pulsesupplied to said data pulse passing means while each data pulse ispresent at the input side of said data pulse passing means.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, and filtering each data pulse from a data pulsegenerator before it is passed to its associated data pulse passingmeans.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said triggering pulses areproduced by decimal counting means, and said sequential operation isachieved by directing triggering pulses from successive decimal numerallocations on said counting means to each of said data pulse passingmeans sequentially.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data pulsegenerators comprising a plurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps,and each of said pumps includes transducer means for transforming theflow of gasoline therethrough into said steam of data pulses.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, each of said data pulse passing means comprising abistable multivibrator.
 6. A method of communicating a data count from afirst location across communication means having at least two channelsto a second location, comprising the steps of causing the data count tobe present on a shift register at said first location, producing acontinuous stream of control pulses at a predetermined frequency, andsimultaneously supplying said stream of control pulses to said shiftregister and to the portion of said communication means at said firstlocation to simultaneously transmit each data bit from said shiftregister across one of said at least two channels of said communicationmeans together with a control pulse across another of said at least twochannels of said communication means to said second location.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein aid communication means comprises atelephonic connection between said first and second locations, whereineach data bit is simultaneously transmitted across said communicationmeans together with a control pulse by causing each control pulse byitself to activate the coil of a first relay of a pair of relays, and tosimultaneously activate the coil of the second of said pair of relaysonly if a ''''high'''' data bit from said shift register is also presentat the input of the coil of said second relay.
 8. The method of claim 6,additionally comprising the step of supplying a number on said shiftregister in addition to the data count thereon to identify said firstlocation to said second location.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein saiddata count is made up of the data counts on a plurality of independentdata counters, and wherein said shift register is large enough tosimultaneously follow the data counts on all of said plurality of datacounters, whereby the data is supplied to said shift register from saidcounters independently and in parallel and is moved out of said shiftregister all together and sequentially.
 10. A circuit for accumulatingdata pulses produced by a plurality of data pulse generators, each ofsaid data pulse generators being operable to produce a stream of datapulses independently of all of the other data pulse generators of saidplurality, said circuit comprising a data pulse passing means connectedto each of said data pulse generators, said circuit comprising timingmeans which includes clock means for producing a continuous stream oftiming pulses at a predetermined frequency, said timing means comprisingtriggering means driven by said timing pulses for sequentially directinga triggering pulse to each of said data pulse passing means, whereinsaid predetermined frequency of timing pulse production by said clockmeans divided by the number of said data pulse generators is greaterthan the maximum frequency of data pulse generation by each of said datapulse generators; each of said data pulse passing means being of such anature that it produces an output upon simultaneously sensing a datapulse and a triggering pulse on its input side, that is is insensitiveto additional triggering pulses to produce additional outputs after ithas so simultaneously sensed a data pulse and a triggering pulse untilafter it has sensed the falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse,and that it will be rendered ready to produce another output after ithas so sensed the falling edge of said last mentioned data pulse andupon the simultaneous presence thereafter of another data pulse andanother triggering pulse; whereby, said data pulse passing meansproduces only one output for each data pulse regardless of anyadditional triggering pulse supplied to said data pulse passing meanswhile each data pulse is present at the input side of said data pulsepassing means, and said circuit further comprising means for countingall of the data pulses passing all of said data pulse passing means. 11.The method of claim 10, said clock means including means to produce saidtiming pulses at different predetermined frequencies.
 12. Thecombination of claim 10, said circuit, with the exclusion of said datapulse generators, comprising solely solid-state electronic components.13. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse generators comprising aplurality of retail gasoline dispensing pumps, and each of said pumpsincluding transducer means for transforming the flow of gasolinetherethrough into said stream of data pulses.
 14. The combination ofclaim 10, each of said data pulse passing means comprising a bistablemultivibrator.
 15. The combination of claim 14, said circuit comprisinga filter interposed between each of said data pulse generators and itsassociated bistable multivibrator.
 16. The combination of claim 10, saidtriggering means comprising decimal counter means for counting thetiming pulses produced by said clock means, said decimal countersequentially operating each of said data pulses passing means bydirecting triggering pulses from successive decimal numeral locationsthereon to each of said data pulse passing means sequentially.
 17. Thecombination of claim 16, said decimal counter means comprising a BCDcounter having its input side connected to said clock means and aone-of-ten decoder having its input side connected to the output side ofsaid BCD counter.
 18. The combination of claim 10, data pulse countingmeans including data pulse conditioning means which comprises a oneshotmultivibrator.
 19. The combination of claim 10, said data pulse Countingmeans including data pulse accumulating means which comprises an''''or'''' gate having its input side operatively cooperable with theoutputs of all of the data pulse passing means.
 20. The combination ofclaim 10, said data pulse counting means comprising a multi-stage BCDcounter operatively cooperable with the output sides of all of said datapulse passing means.
 21. The combination of claim 10, said data pulsecounting means comprising a one-shot multivibrator connected to theoutput of each of said data pulse passing means, an ''''or'''' gatehaving its input connected to the outputs of all of said one-shotmultivibrators, and a multi-stage BCD counter connected to the output ofsaid ''''or'''' gate.
 22. A system for communicating a data countpresent on a shift register at a first location across communicationmeans having at least two channels to data receiving means at a secondlocation which is remote from the first location, switch means at saidsecond location for transmitting a transmit command from said secondlocation to said first location across said communication means, clockmeans at said first location for producing a continuous stream ofcontrol pulses at a predetermined frequency, and said first locationcomprising circuit means for simultaneously supplying said controlpulses to both said shift register and said communication means and forinterconnecting said shift register and said communication means tosimultaneously transmit each bit of data in said shift register acrossone channel of said communication means and one control pulse acrossanother channel of said communication means to said second location. 23.The combination of claim 22, said circuit means comprising an array of apair of relays and an ''''and'''' gate associated with the coil of eachof said relays, each of said relays comprising a pair of normally opencontacts connected to said communication means in such a manner thatclosing of said contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across aseparate channel of said communication means, each of said ''''and''''gates having a pair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said''''and'''' gates comprising said continuous stream of control pulses,the second input of one of said ''''and'''' gates comprising a steadysignal, the other of said inputs of the ''''and'''' gates comprising theoutput of said shift register, circuit means interconnecting the outputof each of said ''''and'''' gates with the coil of a respective one ofsaid relays in such a manner as to close the contacts of each of saidrelays when each of said ''''and'''' gates produces an output pulse,whereby one of said channels of said communication means will transmitone pulse for each control pulse and the other of said channels willsimultaneously transmit a pulse only when a high data bit pulse ispresent at the output of said shift register, and whereby said stream ofcontrol pulses also controls the progression of the data bits in saidshift register corresponding to the data count on said shift registerout of said shift register.
 24. The combination of claim 22, saidcommunication means comprising a telephonic connection between saidfirst and second locations.
 25. The combination of claim 22, and saidshift register further comprising manually controllable means forpermitting creation of an additional number on said shift register inaddition to the numbers corresponding to said data count, whereby saidadditional number may be used for purposes of identifying said firstlocation to said second location.
 26. The combination of claim 22, saiddata receiving means comprising a second shift register and means todisplay the data count received thereon from said first location. 27.The combination of claim 26, said data receiving means furthercomprising a computer, and means interconnecting said computer and saidswitch means for causing automatic operation of said switch means. 28.The combination of claim 22, Wherein said data count is made up of thedata counts on a plurality of independent data counters, and whereinsaid shift register is large enough to simultaneously follow the datacounts on all of said plurality of data counters, whereby the data issupplied to said shift register from said counters independently and inparallel and is moved out of said shift register all together andsequentially.
 29. A system for accumulating data pulses produced by aplurality of data generators and for communicating the accumulated datacount from a first location across communication means to a secondlocation remote from said first location, each of said data pulsegenerators being operable to produce a stream of data pulsesindependently of all of the other data pulse generators of saidplurality, a data pulse passing means connected to each of said datapulse generators, timing means including clock means for producing acontinuous stream of timing pulses at a predetermined frequency, saidtiming means comprising triggering means for sequentially directing atriggering pulse to each of said data pulse passing means, wherein saidpredetermined frequency of timing pulse production by said clock meansdivided by the number of said data pulse generators is greater than themaximum frequency of data pulse generation by each of said data pulsegenerators, each of said data pulse passing means being of such a naturethat it is rendered operative to pass a data pulse from its associateddata pulse generator therethrough and onto subsequent portions of thesystem upon receipt of a triggering pulse and of such a nature that isrendered inoperative to so pass a data pulse upon passage therethroughof a selected portion of each data pulse, circuit means for directingall of the data pulses passing all of said data pulse passing means to ashift register to thereby create a data count on said shift register,said shift register being located at said first location, data receivingmeans at said second location, switch means at said second location fortransmitting a transmit command from said second location to said firstlocation across said communication means, said first location comprisingsaid circuit means for supplying said continuous stream of timing pulsesto both said shift register and said communication means simultaneouslyand for interconnecting said shift register and said communicationmeans, whereby said communication means simultaneously transmits eachdata bit in said shift register together with one timing pulse to saidsecond location.
 30. The combination of claim 29, frequency dividermeans at said first location for changing the predetermined frequency ofthe timing pulses supplied to said shift register and said communicationmeans, whereby the timing of the data accumulation may be different fromthe timing of the data transmission.
 31. The combination of claim 29,said data pulse generators comprising a plurality of retail gasolinedispensing pumps, and each of said pumps including transducer means fortransforming the flow of gasoline therethrough into said stream of datapulses.
 32. The combination of claim 29, each of said data pulse passingmeans comprising a bistable multivibrator.
 33. The combination of claim32, said circuit comprising a filter interposed between each of saiddata pulse generators and its associated bistable multivibrator.
 34. Thecombination of claim 29, said triggering means comprising decimalcounter means for counting the timing pulses produced by said clockmeans, said decimal counter sequentially operating each of said datapulses passing means by directing triggering pulses from successivedecimal numeral locations thereon to each of said data pulse passingmeans sequentially.
 35. The combination of claim 29, and data pulsecounting means, said data pulse counting means comprising a one-shotmultivibrator connected to the output of each of said data pulse passingmeans, an ''''or'''' gate having its input connected to the ouTputs ofall of said one-shot multivibrators, and a multi-stage BCD counterconnected to the output of said ''''or'''' gate.
 36. The combination ofclaim 29, said circuit means comprising an array of a pair of relays andan ''''and'''' gate associated with the coil of each of said relays,each of said relays comprising a pair of normally open contactsconnected to said communication means in such a manner that closing ofsaid contacts causes a pulse to be transmitted across a separate channelof said communication means, each of said ''''and'''' gates having apair of inputs, one of the inputs of each of said ''''and'''' gatescomprising said continuous stream of control pulses, the second input ofone of said ''''and'''' gates comprising a steady signal, the other ofsaid inputs of the ''''and'''' gates comprising the output of said shiftregister, circuit means interconnecting the output of each of said''''and'''' gates with the coil of a respective one of said relays insuch a manner as to close the contacts of each of said relays when eachof said ''''and'''' gates produces an output pulse, whereby one of saidchannels of said communication means will transmit one pulse for eachcontrol pulse and the other of said channels will simultaneouslytransmit a pulse only when a high data bit pulse is present at theoutput of said shift register, and whereby said stream of control pulsesalso controls the progression of the data bits in said shift registercorresponding to the data count on said shift register out of said shiftregister.
 37. The combination of claim 29, said communication meanscomprising a telephonic connection between said first and secondlocations.
 38. The combination of claim 29, and said shift registerfurther comprising manually controllable means for permitting creationof an additional number on said shift register in addition to thenumbers corresponding to said data count, whereby said additional numbermay be used for purposes of identifying said first location to saidsecond location.
 39. The combination of claim 29, said data receivingmeans comprising a second shift register and means to display the datacount received thereon from said first location.
 40. The combination ofclaim 39, said data receiving means further comprising a computer, andmeans interconnecting said computer and said switch means for causingautomatic operation of said switch means.
 41. The combination of claim29, said plurality of data pulse generators consisting of a plurality ofgroups of data pulse generators, said circuit including a separate andindependent data counter for each group of data pulse generators,wherein said data count is made up of the data counts of said pluralityof independent data counters, and wherein said shift register is largeenough to simultaneously follow the data counts on all of said pluralityof data counters, whereby the data is supplied to said shift registerfrom said counters independently and in parallel and is moved out ofsaid shift register all together and sequentially.